Who Would Throw Live Kittens in the Trash? – The Curious Cat Spy Club by Linda Joy Singleton. Book Review.

Kelsey is a loner, but not because she wants to be one. She would like nothing more than to be best friends with Becca Morales but the Sparkler is kind but distant. That is, until Kelsey rescues her zorse. Yes, I spelled that correctly. This event cascades into the rescue of three kittens and the accumulation of a third friend, the most unlikely one of all. Leo Polanski has been labeled a loser but his brilliance comes in handy and his social awkwardness isn’t deliberate. This unlikely team forms the Curious Cat Spy Club and set out to discover who abandoned three kittens to die in a dumpster.

Linda Joy Singleton creates three believable, likable characters. There are three plot lines running through this novel. The first is Kelsey’s desire to have friends, especially Becca, even though the girl avoids her at school. The second is to keep the kittens safe until they can find a home for them, preferably their own. The third is to bring the cat abandoner to justice. All three are completed in a believable and satisfying way.

The mystery is complex enough to keep a middle grade child turning the pages but not so complicated as to bore or clutter the storyline. Singleton does not overwhelm the story with social drama but still allows us to see the emotional makeup of each character. Along the way, readers learn important information about abandoned and abused animals.

The only complaint I have about this book is that the title is very difficult to read in that particular font.

This is a book that middle grade students are sure to enjoy and parents will be happy they’re reading.

Want to know more about Linda Joy Singleton and some of her other books? Read the interview here.

A copy of this book was generously donated by the author to my Little Free Library.